David Munroe

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Christened:
David was baptized at the Canterbury First Church.

David married Mary Vallet on 20 May 1733. Mary was born about 1710; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Mary Munroe was born about 1736 in Canterbury, Windham Co., Connecticut, USA; was christened on 7 Nov 1736; and died.
2. David Munroe was born on 7 Nov 1737 in Canterbury, Windham Co., Connecticut, USA; was christened on 8 Jan 1738; died on 20 May 1809; was buried in , , New York, USA.
3. Abigail Munroe was born about 1741 in Canterbury, Windham Co., Connecticut, USA; was christened on 14 Jun 1741; and died.
4. John Munroe was born about 1742 in Canterbury, Windham Co., Connecticut, USA; was christened on 15 Jun 1742; and died.

Notes:

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«i»The Lexington records mention only the birth of David Munroe (born in Cambridge Farms, later Lexington), but Connecticut was then being settled by emigrants from the colonies of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay, and in Apr 1705 he and his wife are found in Canterbury, when their first child was born.

His wife, Deborah (or Deborah) was the daughter of Samuel and Mary (Nutting) Howe (or How). Some references say they were married on 1 Apr 1722, but that doesn't seem likely unless David had a previous marriage which produced most of his children.

The town of Canterbury contained but ten families when it was endowed with town privileges in 1703. In 1714 Samuel Adams and Obadiah Johnson conveyed a farm of 136 acres to David Munroe, by deed recorded in Canterbury. In 1722 David and Deborah joined the church in Canterbury. In 1723 a division of common lands was made among those residents of Canterbury "who were settled inhabitants and paid to ye building of ye meeting-house and minister's home" which were completed in 1711. In this allotment, David received one and one- half shares. In 1743 a controversy arose among the members of Canterbury church over a sermon by its minister which did not meet the views of many of them. A committee recommended the minister's dismissal, David and five others made written protest against the committee's report, severely criticising its motives. The committee retaliated by recommending that David and his associates be expelled from the church. The matter was finally settled by dismissal of the minister, with David and the other protestants remaining in the Church.

The identity of David Munroe of Canterbury as the son of William Munroe of Cambridge Farms was questioned by one writer upon the ground that not being mentioned in William's will it indicated that David probably died young. Later, however, Rev. Mr. Northrup and Dr. Will S. Munroe, author and prominent educator, for many years professor of psychology in Montclair, N.J. State Normal School, in their preparation of the "Genealogy of Josiah Munroe," after much careful research became convinced, and so stated in their publication, that David of Canterbury was, without a doubt, the son of William of Cambridge Farms.

Their conclusions were based upon the following, among other circumstances: David, appearing as he did, among the early settlers of Canterbury, must have emigrated there from some other place, but the records of emigrants to New England prior to that time and the published vital statistics of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut disclose no one bearing tht name who could have been identified with him other than William's son David; between the time of his baptism in Lexington in 1699 and the birth of his first child in Canterbury in 1705, he was of the age when one might expect him to marry and establish a home in a new community; there was a family tradition that he came from Cambridge; his grandson, John Munroe, who lived and died in Canterbury, left a written family record which passed to John's granddaughter, Mary Munroe Collins, who retained it until it was destroyed by a fire which burned the Collins home in 1890, but she well remembered its contents which told of the coming of William from Scotland to Massachusetts and the settlement of his son, David, in Canterbury, all of which she related to Dr. Monroe when he visited Canterbury in 1912 collecting material for their work. Moreover, it appeared that four of David's seven daughters, viz., Mary, Eleanor, Elizabeth and Sarah bore the given name of his grandfather and his uncle. It would be quite unreasonable to presume that such a coincidence of names would occur except in immediately related families. in addition to all this Mrs. Collins told Dr. Monroe, and after her death, her son informed him of this sketch that his mother had told him that David's wife came from Concord, Massachusetts. A search of the Concord vital records disclosed only one woman named Deborah, born there of marriageable age for David, viz., Deborah How, daughter of Samuel and Mary How. Upon further search it was found that Samuel How had joined the tide of emigration to Connecticut. According to the "Howe Genealogies" published by the New England Historical and Genealogical Society, he resided in Concord until shortly after 1700 when he moved to Plainfield, a new town in Windham County, Connecticut. It is also there stated that his daughter Deborah married David Monroe and the Probate Records of Plainfield, where he died, show that David Monroe in 1725 receipted for his wife's share of Samuel How's estate. The same records show the distribution of the estate of Mary how who died in 1727 and refer to Deborah Monroe as her daughter.

If David Munroe had died in Lexington, his death would have been recorded in the vital statistics of that town and his remains would have rested in the family burying ground with a tombstone marking his grave as do those of his mother and father. The absence of these is further corroborative proof of the correctness of Rev. Mr. Northrup's conclusion as to the identity of David Munroe of Canterbury as William's son of that name. In 1913 the Lexington Historical Society published a revised edition of Hudson's "History of Lexington" in which David Munroe was shown as a son of William. The correction relating to him, appearing in Vol. II, after the index at page 6 of Additions and Corrections, read as follows: "Before Joseph no. 6 on page 461 insert; David Munroe(2) (William(1)) b. 6 Oct 1680; d. 19 Jun 1755. He removed to Canterbury, Connecticut and bought land 22 Feb 1715. In 1723 received 1.5 shares of land as one who paid towards the meeting house and minister's house, which were completed in 1711. He will was probated 8 Sep 1755"
«/i»
(" New England Historical and Genealogical Register", Vol. C, 1946 via. "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes")
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On 1 Apr 1722, David and Deborah were admitted to the Canterbury First Church.

David left a will dated 9 Feb 1753 in which he mentioned that he had 6 daughters and 4 sons. (Plainfield Probate No. 1468)

The Larry Monroe reference says David was the son of (Ensign) William [130].

Ref: Clan Munro files - Coye, Ruby
- Dietrich, Earl
- Elder, Charlotte
- Sage, Wes
- Yard, Prof. F. L. Dixon
- Monroe, Kathleen Lois
- Monroe, Larry Gene - Genealogy of Larry Gene Monroe

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Rea, Barbara Frances Lee - Descendants of William Munroe

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Cambridge Farms

David married Deborah Howe in 1704 in Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. Deborah (daughter of Samuel How and Mary Nutting) was born on 19 Oct 1685 in Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; died on 1 Sep 1748 in Canterbury, Windham Co., Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Married:
Marriage place unverified

Notes:

The link between William Munroe of Lexington, Massachusetts and Robert Munro of Aldie has not been proven beyond a doubt. However, there is a body of circumstantial evidence that supports that assumption. An excellent summary of the evidence can be found in the preface to "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R.S. Munroe.

Not only is there no proof that William was the son of Robert of Aldie, there happens to be two people named Robert of Aldie who could possibly have been his father. Some researchers say William was the son of Robert Munro of Aldie b. about 1566 who married Isobel McKenzie, but most Munro genealogists have settled on Robert Munro of Aldie b. 1590 and married Elizxabeth Johnson. Other researchers erroneously say William was a son of Robert Munro XIV of Foulis.

William was born in 1625 near Inverness, Scotland. He was probably the son of Robert of Aldie who "went to the wars in Germany" and had sons George, William and Benedict. Robert of Aldie married in Nuremberg and died in Germany in 1633.

William was probably conscripted to serve in the army in the constant battles going on at this time. All men between the ages of 16 and 60 were expected to fight in Scotland's wars.

It was a time of great upheaval in Scotland. There was no chief at Foulis keeping the clan together. The Black Baron had already fallen into debt and disposed of much of the property. He had married three times, once bigamously, and was in Germany in the service of Christian IV where he died in 1633 when William was eight years old. Scotland was at war with England and within Scotland there were accumulating differences, political and religious, among Catholics and Presbyterians, covenanters and royalists. Battles large and small raged from coast to coast.

A historian noted the poverty of an exhausted broken down distracted country. Another wrote, "Our miseries and danger of ruin are greater than for many ages... a potent victorious enemy masters our seas... and the best part of our land. Our standing forces against his imminent invasions are few, weak and inconsiderable. Our kirk, state and army are full of divisions and jealousies. Our people south of the Forth are spoiled and near starving; north they are extremely ill-used by our own, many inclined to treat with Cromwell without care of king or covenant; none of our neighbors are willing to give us any help though called."

All men were conscripted, except those who were termed "malignant", not loyal to the cause, and many arguments resulted. King Charles was displaying treachery, playing both sides against each other. Cromwell attempted to bring the King in line without further bloodshed but without success.

In this miserable state, Cromwell met the Scots at Dunbar on 3 Sep 1650. A terrible battle ensued. Three thousand men fell on the field. Ten thousand were taken prisoner. Five thousand sick and wounded were dismissed from the field and allowed to go homeward, if able. Those who survived a violent disorder in prison were sold as slaves to the plantations.

The Scots did not surrender. The wars continued for another year. The castle at Edinburgh was surrendered without bloodshed, although rape, robbery and murder were perpetrated on the citizens by the soldiers outside the castle walls.

William was with the Scottish Army under Charles II which engaged the English at Worcester on 3 Sep 1651, exactly one year after the Battle of Dunbar. The battle raged for three hours and the Scots initially had the upper hand until the arrival of fresh English troops. The slaughter went on for two more hours. The victors and the vanquished entered Worcester fighting. The noise woke up King Charles who had been sleeping while men died for him. He rushed into the street and attempted to take charge, but was ignored. Seeing the direction of events, the king fled with fugitives who were leaving the city. Two thousand men were killed and between six and seven thousand were taken prisoner in the city and more later. William was among those captured.

All who lived at Worcester were taken by Cromwell and imprisoned or sent to the plantations. Almost all of the Scottish Chieftains were ruined, dead, in prison or in exile. The clans were abolished and it was forbidden to wear tartans.

William was sold to the plantations, probably the best thing that could have happened to a Scotsman at that time. He was shipped from London on 11 Nov 1651 by Jo, Reex, Robert Rich and William Green on the "John and Sarah", arrived in New England in Mar 1652, and consigned to Thomas Kemble of Boston, who had the privilege of selling his indentured servants for periods of from six to eight years. Four Munros were on board: Robert, John, Hugh and one name, thought to be William, which was obliterated on the manifest. William might have been sold as an apprentice at the Saugus Iron Works. The Beckett reference says "William Munrow (Munroe, Munro), says tradition, was bound out to a farmer by the name of Winship, who resided in that part of Cambridge called Mehotony (now Arlington), and when his indenture had expired he set up for himself, going farther back into the woods and procuring a tract of land within the prsent limits of Lexington, on a section now known as Scotland."

If William was sold as an apprentice when he first arrived in America, he must have been his own man by 1657 because he and one Thomas Rose were fined in Cambridge for not having rings in the noses of their swine.

Around 1660, he settled in the northeasterly part of Cambridge Farms, now known as Lexington, near the Woburn line. In those days this part of the town was called "Scotland". He was made freeman in 1690 and on 1 Feb 1699 was received into Communion of the Church. In 1693, he was one of the committee "to treat for the purchase of land for the minister." In 1694 he was a selectman of Cambridge and later his name appears in connection with several other important parish offices.

The Ackerman reference speculates that William was born in 1634.

His first wife, Margaret George, was the daughter of John and Anna (Goldstone) George of Charlestown. The Mills reference says Margaret was born about 1636.

His third wife was the widow of Edward Dwyer (or Wyer) of Charlestown, daughter of William and Elizabeth Johnson. The Ellis reference says Elizabeth was William's second wife and that Mary Ball was his third.

Several references say William was the son of Robert Munro of Aldie [10900]. Robert [10900] was the uncle of Robert Munro of Aldie [2760], William's father as listed here.

The Hopkins reference says William was the son of "Farquhar Munroe of Aldie" and Catherine MacCulloch, and the Andrews reference says William was the son of Robert Munro XVIII of Foulis. There is no hard proof as to the actual identity of William's father.

His gravestone inscription reads: "Here Lyes ye Body of Mr William Munroe, Aged about 92 years, Decd Janry 27th 1717-8. "

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«i»William Munroe, who, born in Caithness, Scotland, in 1625, was taken prisoner by Cromwell's men at the battle of Worcester in 1651, and was deported in the John and Sara to Boston. He worked out the cost of his passage, settled in Cambridge Farms (now Lexington), in a section still called "Scotland," married three wives, had thirteen children and became a substantial citizen.

As his children married he added successive ells to his house until it is said to have resembled a ropewalk.«/i»

("The Monroe Tavern" - a newwspaper article from an unknown Boston area newspaper - 1911)
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William was one of the company of Scotsmen who fought on the side of Charles II against Cromwell at the battle of Worchester, England on September 3, 1651. About 8000 of the Scots were captured, and sent to America as indentured servants to pay for their passage. Four Munros were sent from London on the ship "John and Sara" on November 11, 1651. They were listed as Hugh Monrow, John Monrow, Robert Monrow, and ------- Monrow (presumably William "The Immigrant" Monroe. He arrived in New England in March 1652, and was consigned to Thomas Kemble of Boston. In 1660, he settled in Cambridge Farms (now Lexington) in the part of town called "Scotland". He was made a free man in 1690.

("Descendants of John Munro" - by W. M. Roeser)
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Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - M/24
Clan Munro files - Ackerman, Elizabeth - membership application
- Bonney, Frances
- Brown, Thelma
- Charles, Marie Pierce
- Coombs, Judith
- Coutant, Martha
- Cox, J.
- Coye, Ruby
- Crandall, Katherine
- Delehanty, James
- Dietrich, Earl
- Elder, Charlotte
- Ebb, Jane Michelle (application)
- Farlow, Donna
- Griffin, Richard
- Guilford, Joan
- Henderson, Martha Monroe
- Jewell, Dana Munroe
- Langtry, Jeannette
- Mady, Ashley Nicole
- Mills, Larry
- Monroe, Ruby Lucille
- Sage, Wes
- Stephens, Frances
- Yard, F. L. Dixon

References:

(1) "Charles Monroe (1823-1873) of Posey, Vanderburgh & Gibson County, Indiana
- His Ancestors and Descendants" by Kendyl K. Monroe - (1997) - p. 1

(2) "History of Ashburnham Massachusetts" published in 1887


Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Historical research suggested that William Munroe (b. 1625) was one of Robert Munro of Aldie's sons and the unknown "Munrow" listed as a prisoner of war on the "John and Sara" ship (1652). However Y-DNA research performed in 2018 (reported by Mark E. Monroe) does not verify this assumption, so we are removing Robert Munro of Aldie and Elizabeth Johnson as his parents in this database.
(Note by Betti J. Steele MD, 28 May 2019)

Buried:
William was buried in the Old Cemetery in Lexington, Massachusetts.

William married Mary Ball in Sep 1672 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. Mary (daughter of John Ball and Elizabeth Pierce) was born in 1651 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; died in Aug 1692 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary's gravestone inscription reads: "Here Lyes ye Body of Mary Munroo wife to William Munroo Aged 41 years Died August 1692."

References:

(1) "Charles Monroe (1823-1873) of Posey, Vanderburgh & Gibson County, Indiana
- His Ancestors and Descendants" by Kendyl K. Monroe - (1997) - p. 1

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Buried:
Mary was buried at the Old Cemetery. Her gravestone says she died at age 41.

Notes:

Samuel How joined the tide of emigration to Connecticut. He resided in Concord, Massachusetts until shortly after 1700 when he moved to Plainfield, a new town in Windham County, Connecticut.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Samuel married Mary Nutting. Mary was born about 1657; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

John married Elizabeth Pierce in 1643 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. Elizabeth was born on 11 Apr 1624 in Norwich, , Norfolk, England; died on 1 Nov 1655 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Died:
"Lancaster, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA"

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA